2015 Toyota Verso vs 2015 Mazda CX5 vs Nissan Qashqai

Hello. Looking for your somewhat biased opinion. Should I buy a 2015 Toyota Verso or a 2015 Mazda CX5 or a 2015 Nissan Qashqai? I want a reliable, reliable, reliable, fuel efficient, comfortable, quiet, family-friendly car. In that order. I have been driving a 2010 Prius for around 8 years. It's been incredibly reliable apart from a recalled break booster that didn't fail for us within the time limit and so we had to Shell out for it. I want to buy another Toyota because they are....just....so...reliable but the Mazda looks quite attractive to me. All of the Prius Plus models in my price range have more than 250,000 miles on them. I'd like to buy something below 100,000. I like the way the Verso looks. It will be carrying two adults and two teenage children, possibly a dog or two if I get my way, on trips to school (not the dogs), shopping and family holidays Cornwall, France etc. I'm worried the 1.6 diesel will be slow and lumbering to drive but once you change to the 2 liter diesel or the petrol engine the road tax sky rockets. It's not the cost of the road tax but my intention of wanting a car that is fuel-efficient and low emissions. Hence, looking at Nissan Qashqai and Mazda CX5.......is this a horrible comparison? Thanks in advance for your thoughts! Tell me I want the Verso!

My dad has had a 2.0L D4D Verso and currently has a 1.8L Petrol CVT Verso - They've been great cars, never had anything major go wrong with them.

The diesel did 50-55mpg while the petrol is more 35-40mpg generally. Petrol one is much more refined and the CVT gearbox has a surprising amount of pull when given The Beans.

I love how flexible the seating is and all the storage (We found there're even secret storage areas under the mid-row mats in the floor!)

The 1.6 diesel has enough grunt to move it decently, but I'd shy away from it as it's a BMW engine, not a Toyota, and I don't hear great things about it on the forum. With the demonization of diesel, petrol would be a safer bet for long term anyway.

If you can get one registered after April 2017, it will be on the new tax system, so will be just a flat fee no matter what engine or emissions (So e.g. the 1.6 and 1.8 petrol will be the same to tax despite the 1.8's higher CO2, unlike on the previous tax system)

The Mazda is apparently nicer to drive, but has the normal SUV trappings of being bigger but somehow having less space. It is nicer inside than the Verso though. Since you cited reliability, just avoid the Crashqui  

Another one that might be worth looking at is the BMW 2-series Gran Tourer - I don't know what they're like reliability-wise, but my brother's had one for a while without any issues, and it's really swish. If Lexus did a Verso-equivalent, that's kinda what I imagine it'd be like  

Thanks Cyker - very useful info!!